5.0-magnitude tremor jolts Sultan Kudarat on Jan. 30; earthquake swarm marks 12th day
Map showing the epicenter of the 5.0-magnitude earthquake on Jan. 30, 2026. The tremor forms part of an ongoing offshore earthquake swarm in Sultan Kudarat, as reported by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
A magnitude 5.0 earthquake jolted parts of Sultan Kudarat on Friday morning, Jan. 30, as an offshore earthquake swarm that began on Jan. 19 entered its 12th day, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.
Phivolcs said the earthquake struck at 8:49 a.m., with the epicenter located 34 kilometers southwest of Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat.
The tremor was generated by movement along the Cotabato Trench.
Phivolcs said the quake was felt at Intensity V (strong) in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat, and at Intensity IV (moderately strong) in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat.
It noted that the earthquake forms part of an ongoing earthquake swarm, which it defines as a short-lived sequence of minor to light earthquakes with no identifiable large event or main shock.
From Jan. 19 until 8 a.m. on Jan. 30, a total of 2,640 tremors were recorded offshore of Sultan Kudarat, with magnitudes ranging from 1.3 to 5.9.
Of these, 792 earthquakes were plotted, meaning they were detected by at least three seismic monitoring stations.
Phivolcs added that 91 of the recorded tremors were felt by residents in nearby areas.
The agency assured the public that it continues to closely monitor the situation and will provide updates should any significant developments occur.